Exercising device



April 7, 1942. A. F. SAK 2,278,591

EXERCISING DEVICE INVENTOR;

.fi'iziarz i1 J'ak BY W Filed April 2, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.I

Ap 7, 942. A. F. am I EXERCISING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

AT'ITORNEY.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 U Ni TED STAT ES PATEN T OF F ICE 2,278,591 vEXERCISING DEVICE Anthony F. Sak, Bernardston, Mass. Application April2, 1941, Serial No. 386,436

8 Claims.

for an indefinite period without maintenance service, such aslubrication, repairs, or replacement of parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exercising device ofthe character described which includes an operating handle and means forproviding resistance to movement of the operating handle in eitherdirection from its neutral or median position.

A still further object of this invention isto provide a device of thecharacter described including means for adjusting the initial or neutralangle of the operating handle, whereby the arc of movement may beadjustably determined to suit the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter described, a handle bar and means for adjustably positioningthe handle bar to vary the length of the stroke, and to adapt the deviceto the length of the arms of the operator.

Again, an object of this invention is to provide a simple, light weightstructure of the character described which may be folded or collapsedinto a compact, flat package for transportation, packing, or storage.

These, and other objects and advantages of this invention will becompletely and concisely disclosed and described in the followingspecification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Broadly, this invention comprises a frame, a seat secured on one end ofthe frame, a handle pivotally secured adjacent the opposite end of theframe, a cylinder pivotally supported on the frame near the seat end, apiston slidably supported in the cylinder, compression springs in thecylinder engaging both sides of the piston, a connecting rod secured tothe piston and pivotally connected to the handle, means for adjustablypositioning the pivotal connection of the connecting rod and handle, ahandle bar, and means for adjustably positioning the handle bar in thehandle relative to the pivotal connection of the handle on the frame.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of theexercising device,

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the handle,

Fig, 3 is an underside plan view of one of the end or cross bars,

Fig, 4 is a perspective View of the front cross bar or foot brace,

Fig. 5 is a cross section illustrating the removable pivot pin andpiston connecting rod, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the exercising device,

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the cylinder, taken on the line 88 of Fig.6

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like numerals refer tolike parts throughout,

A pair of frame members I are bolted or otherwise secured at front andrear ends to cross bars 2 and 3, respectively, in parallel, spacedrelation, as best indicated in Figs. 1 and '7. Foot pads 4, of rubber orother suitable resilient material, are secured on the under side of thecross bars 3 and 4 in angular or toenailed relation, thereby providingresistance against both longitudinal and transverse movement of thedevice when it is placed on a floor or other supporting surface. Thefront cross bar 2 is chamfered on either side of the frame members I, asindicated at 5, to provide angular surfaces against which the feet of anoperator of the device may be braced. A seat 6 is secured on the uppersurfaces of the frame members I, over the rear cross bar 3.

A handle 8 is pivotally secured between the frame members I, adjacenttheir front ends, by means of a pivot pin 9. A handle bar In is slidablyand removably supported in one of a plurality or holes I l formed in theupper portion of the handle 8, The diameter of the grip portions l 2 ofthe handle bar In is small enough to permit withdrawal of the handle barIn from the holes H, as best indicated in Fig. 2.

A cylinder I3 is pivotally supported between and near the rear ends ofthe frame members I by means of a pivot pin or stud M. A piston I5,provided with a connecting rod [6, is normally positioned midway in thecylinder l3, as indicated in Fig. 6, and compression springs I1 and I8are supported in the cylinder l3-on either side of the piston IS. Thespring l1 bears against the stud l4 and the piston 15, and the spring18.

bears against the opposite face of the piston l5 and a screw cap l9removably secured over the front end of the cylinder l3. The springs I!and I8 are enclosed in sleeves of resilient, absorbent material such ascloth fabric, or the like, which may be soaked in a lubricant, eitherliquid or semi-solid, as oil or grease. The front end of the connectingrod I6 is provided with a head 2| which extends into a slot 22 formed inthe handle 8, and is pivotally connected to the handle 8 by means of apivot pin 23 engaged in one of a series of spaced holes 24 formed in thehandle 8.

The device may be operated by a person seated on the seat 8 andgrasping, with the hands, the handle bar ID. As the handle 8 is pulledtoward the body, resistance is offered by the spring 11, and thisresistance increases with the distance through which the handle is movedfrom its neutral position. When the handle 8 is pushed away from thebody, resistance is offered by the spring I8, which acts in the samemanner as the spring H, but in reverse direction. Thus, effort isrequired to move the handle in either direction from its neutralposition. No effort is required in returning the handle to neutralposition, as the reaction of the springs l1 and I8 control thesemovements.

Adjustment of the length of swing of the handle 8 is controlled byadjustably locating the handle bar l0, and the neutral angle, orstarting position, of the handle 8 is controlled by adjustablypositioning of the pivot pin 23 in the holes 24.

With the pivot pin 23 and handle bar In removed from the handle 8, thecylinder [3 and its connecting rod I6, and the handle 8 may be loweredto rest between the frame members I, as indicated by dash lines in Fig.6, thereby providing a fiat, compact package for storage, packing, andtransportation.

If desired, a cap 25 may be secured on'the lower end of the cylinder I3,and the cylinder packed with grease or other suitable lubricant.

Preferably, the members I, 2, 3, 6, 8, and ID are made of wood, or of amaterial having an equal or less specific gravity with wood, therebyproviding an extremely lightweight apparatus which may be easily liftedor carried. Such a construction also results in economies intransportation and distribution.

What I claim is:

1. An exercising device comprising a pair of spaced, parallel framemembers, a seat supported on said members at one end thereof, a handlepivotally supported between said frame members adjacent the opposite endthereof, a cylinder pivotally supported between said frame membersbeneath said seat, a piston in said cylinder, opposed compressionsprings in said cylinder on either side of said piston and acting onsaid piston, said piston being provided with a connecting rod which ispivotally secured on said handle.

2. An exercising device comprising a longitudinal rail, a seat securedon one end of said rail, a handle pivotally supported adjacent theopposite end of said rail, a cylinder pivotally supported on said railadjacent the seat end, a piston in said cylinder, a connecting rod onsaid piston which is pivotally connected on said handle, and compressionsprings in said cylinder on either side of said piston and bearingagainst said piston.

3. An exercising device comprising a pair of spaced, parallel framerails, said rails being secured on and supported by cross bars at eachend, angularly disposed resilient foot pads secured on the under side ofsaid cross bars, a seat secured on the top surface of said rails at therear end thereof, a handle pivotally secured on and between said railsadjacent the front ends thereof, a cylinder having its rear endpivotally supported between said rails adjacent the rear ends of saidrails, a piston normally positioned midway in said cylinder, aconnecting rod on said piston and pivotally connected on said handle,and compression springs in said cylinder on either side of said pistonand bearing against said piston.

4. An exercising device comprising a stationary frame, a seat on saidframe, a handle pivotally supported on said frame at a point remote fromsaid seat, a cylinder pivotally supported on said frame adjacent saidseat, a piston in said cylinder, a connecting rod on said piston andpivotally connected to said handle, and a compression spring in saidcylinder acting upon said piston to resist movement of said handletoward said seat.

5. An exercising device comprising a stationary frame, a seat on saidframe, a handle pivotally supported on said frame at a point remote fromsaid seat, a cylinder pivotally supported on said frame adjacent saidseat, a piston in said cylinder, a connecting rod on said piston andpivotally connected to said handle, and a compression spring in saidcylinder acting upon said piston to resist movement of said handle awayfrom said seat.

6. An exercising device comprising a stationary frame, a seat on saidframe, a handle pivotally supported on said frame at a point remote fromsaid seat, a cylinder pivotally supported on said frame adjacent saidseat, a piston in said cylinder, a connecting rod on said piston andpivotally connected to said handle, compression springs in said cylinderon either side of said piston and acting upon said piston to resistmovement of said handle either toward or away from said seat.

'7. An exercising device comprising a frame, a seat secured on one endof said frame, a handle pivotally secured on the frame remote from saidseat, a cylinder pivotally supported on said frame near the seat end, apiston slidably supported in said cylinder, compression springs in saidcylinder engaging opposite faces of said piston, a connecting rod onsaid piston and pivotally connected to said handle, means for adjustablypositioning the pivotal connection of said rod on said handle relativeto the pivotal support of said handle.

8. An exercising device comprising a frame, a seat secured on one end ofsaid frame, a handle pivotally secured on said frame remote from saidseat, a cylinder pivotally supported on said frame near the seat end, apiston slidably supported in said cylinder, compression springs in saidcylinder engaging opposite faces of said piston, a connecting rod onsaid piston and pivotally connected to said handle, said springs beingenclosed in resilient, oil-absorbent fabric sleeves, means foradjustably positioning the pivotal connection of said rod on said handlerelative to the pivotal support of said handle, a handle bar, and meansfor adjustably positioning said handle bar in said handle relative tothe pivotal support of said handle.

ANTHONY F. SAK.

